What Is the Cabinet Painting Process in Ottawa?

If you’re repainting cabinets in Ottawa, the process matters!

You’re not painting walls.

You’re refinishing the most used surfaces in your home.

Here’s how a professional cabinet painting process actually works when quality comes first.

Doors Always Go to the Shop. No Exceptions.

All cabinet doors and drawer faces leave your home.

Every time.

Why?

• A professional spray booth

• Controlled temperature and humidity

• Proper ventilation

• Consistent finish quality

Cabinet boxes, gable ends, crown moulding, and valances stay on site and get painted in place.

This split process reduces disruption in your home and controls quality where it matters most.

Would you accept a car painted in someone’s garage?

What Happens to your Cabinet Doors

Here’s the real sequence.

No skipped steps.

• Door is removed and labeled

• Loaded into our van

• Transported to our shop

• Cleaned to remove grease and residue

• Caulked if joints or seams need tightening

• Sanded

• Vacuumed with a HEPA filter

• Primed

• Inspected under shop lighting

• Imperfections repaired with Bondo

• Sanded again

• First finish coat applied

• Sanded a third time

• Final finish coat applied

• Cured for 24 hours

• Wrapped for transport

• Reinstalled and adjusted

This is why cabinet painting takes time.

This is also why it lasts.

Cabinet Materials We See in Ottawa Homes

Ottawa kitchens are mixed.

We work with:

• Solid wood

• MDF

• Veneer doors with lifting edges

• Thermofoil that’s peeling or delaminating

Thermofoil and veneer issues are common.

Both are repairable when handled correctly.

With a strict process, all materials perform the same after painting.

The material isn’t the risk.

The prep is.

Common Failures We Fix From Other Painters

Homeowners often call after things go wrong. Why choose us first?

The patterns repeat.

• Peeling paint

• Rough texture

• Brush marks on doors

• Edges not filled or sanded

• Poor adhesion around handles and touch points

These issues don’t come from bad paint.

They come from skipped steps.

No Prep Steps Are Optional

Speed never wins over quality.

We don’t skip:

• Cleaning

• Sanding

• Priming

• Curing time

Every step supports the next one.

Remove one, and the system fails.

Ask yourself this.

Would you rush the finish on something you touch every day?

Does Ottawa’s Climate Matter?

Not when the process is controlled.

Our spray booth manages temperature and humidity year-round.

Winter dryness.

Summer humidity.

Seasonal swings.

None of it affects the finish when the environment stays stable.

That’s the difference between painting in a house and refinishing in a shop.

Products We Trust and Why

We use a system that works together.

• BIN shellac primer

• Envirolak cabinet topcoat

• Rhino Skin Hardener

We’ve tested other products from Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, and Dulux.

They didn’t deliver the same durability or warranty results.

Our current system supports a six-year warranty and real-world wear.

That’s the benchmark.

How Long Should Painted Cabinets Last?

Most painted cabinets last:

• 5 to 10 years under normal use

Our system delivers:

• 10 to 15 years of solid performance

Damage usually comes from misuse.

Hard impacts.

Abuse.

Not daily cooking.

What Disruption Looks Like in Your Home

Minimal.

Here’s the typical timeline.

• Two days on site at the start

– Door removal

– On-site priming and finishing of fixed components

• 7 to 10 business days off-site

– Doors and drawers refinished in our shop

• One return visit

– Reinstall

– Adjustments

– Minor touch-ups

Your kitchen stays functional.

No weeks of chaos.

Questions You Should Ask Any Cabinet Painter

Ask these before you sign anything.

• Are you fully insured?

• What paint system do you use?

• Where are the doors sprayed?

• Can I see your shop or spray booth?

If the answer involves a garage or basement, walk away.

Your cabinets cost too much to gamble on shortcuts.

Ready to Repaint Your Cabinets the Right Way?

If you want your cabinets refinished in a professional spray booth, using a proven system that lasts, this is where you start.

• Minimal disruption in your home

• Doors sprayed off-site in a controlled environment

• A finish designed to handle daily use

• Backed by a written six-year warranty

You get a clear process. You get realistic timelines. You get results that still look right years from now.

If you’re in Ottawa and considering cabinet painting, cal 613-722-1059 or book a consultation and get a detailed quote before making a decision.